The European Union's Entry and Exit System, which became fully operational in April, requires all non-EU travellers—including British visitors—to register facial photographs and fingerprints upon arrival at borders spanning 29 Schengen countries. The system was intended to accelerate processing and improve tracking of cross-border movement across the EU.

However, the practical implementation has created substantial delays at major border crossing points, with peak-season queues now extending to five hours. Airlines and airport operators have formally urged European Commission leadership to suspend the system during the summer holiday season, citing instances of passengers missing flights and aircraft departing with empty seats. Any temporary halt would require approval from individual EU member states rather than airport authorities alone.